| The name iPod has been synonymous with | | | | |
| digital music players since the 3rd | | | | - Comes with added extras including an AC |
| generation iPod was launched three years ago | | | | adaptor and a protective case. |
| but is it really the best product on the | | | | |
| market today? | | | | As with Apple's iPods, Creative have |
| | | | developed an entire range of media players |
| Some in-depth research showed that there are | | | | that have a variety of features and cater for |
| in fact a few companies that have developed | | | | all budgets. |
| and manufactured digital media players that | | | | |
| have features to rival even the newest iPod. | | | | The AV500 Mobile DVR (digital video recorder) |
| | | | from Archos |
| The iPod video from Apple | | | | |
| | | | - Multimedia entertainment system with an |
| - Multimedia player with an internal hard | | | | incredible 100GB memory. |
| drive, the largest of which is 60GB. | | | | |
| | | | - Video, music, photos and it has the ability |
| - 2.5" full colour screen. | | | | to record straight from the TV or computer. |
| | | | |
| - Dimensions - 103.5 x 61.8 x 11mm. | | | | - 4" high resolution full colour screen. |
| | | | |
| - Weight - 136g | | | | - Dimensions - 76 x 124 x 18mm. |
| | | | |
| - Uses iTunes software which is available for | | | | - Weight - 255g |
| both Windows and Mac computers. | | | | |
| | | | - Works with Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS |
| - Music, photos, video playback. | | | | 10.2.4 or higher. |
| | | | |
| - 14 hour battery life for music playback and | | | | - 15 hours battery life for music playback |
| 2 hours for video. | | | | and 4.5 hours for video. |
| | | | |
| - Uses iPod click wheel to navigate menus. | | | | - Music downloaded from Microsoft PlayForSure |
| | | | websites. |
| This is just one of the iPod models but there | | | | |
| are a number of other models available, all | | | | - Also incorporates FM radio and Dictaphone. |
| of which have different features. | | | | |
| | | | - Built in microphone and speaker. |
| The Zen vision:M from Creative | | | | |
| | | | The Archos AV500 Mobile DVR is admittedly a |
| - Mp3 player, photo, video and FM radio | | | | bit more expensive than the other two |
| receiver with an internal hard drive, the | | | | examples (which are very similar in price) |
| biggest of which is 30GB. This holds 15,000 | | | | but its extra features make it an exceptional |
| songs or 120 hours of video. | | | | buy. |
| | | | |
| - Has a full colour screen the same size as | | | | So if there are other media players to rival |
| the iPod video. | | | | iPod why is Apple still commanding the |
| | | | market? Apple and iPod are such big names |
| - Dimensions - 104 x 62 x 18.9mm | | | | that people tend to go for what they know to |
| | | | be popular and successful so even though some |
| - Weight - 163g | | | | of Apples adversaries are now making quality |
| | | | products with even more features than the |
| - Works with Windows XP but not Mac software. | | | | iPod nobody really knows about |
| | | | them…yet. |
| - Similar battery life to iPod video. | | | | |
| | | | For more information, tips and reviews about |
| - Scroll mouse used to navigate very easy to | | | | the iPod, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, |
| use menu system. | | | | accessories and iTunes, visit Timothy |
| | | | Michell's website iMegaWorld.com, the |
| - Has ability to record FM radio and can be | | | | complete online reference guide for anything |
| linked to the TV using AV cable (not | | | | related to the iPod. |
| included). | | | | |